Good Clean Fun

Abstract

This chapter presents an in-depth examination of how the design of entertainment districts and public parks impacts the health and safety of neighborhoods. Many place-based changes are initially spurred on by commercial interests in and around business districts. However, little attention has been placed on the role that commercial and business design can have on people's health and safety outcomes. Commercial corridors and business districts that actively choose to enhance the place-based experience for their customers generate bustling streets that improve commerce and reduce crime. Parks were originally designed for leisure, and large infrastructure changes to parks are expensive and generate little change in overall use and exercise. However, small strategic changes can be made to parks to provide subtle motivational signs that stimulate greater physical activity among park users. The chapter then considers several studies based on rigorous scientific evidence that highlight how such strategic designs and governance arrangements of business districts and parks can improve the experience of people in search of places for shopping and recreation.